River of the Night – a poem by Richard West

River of the Night

We call it the Milky Way – the gleaming 
sweep of stars that crosses, bridge-like,
the clear night sky. But through time 
others have done better.  
The ancient Maya called it the “World Tree”
and in the Kalahari Desert it is named 
the “Backbone of the Night.”
But most cultures see this rift of stars as 
a road or river in the sky.  The Incas called it 
Quechua – the “Sacred River,” 
the Chinese call it the “Silver River,” and 
in Japan it is known as the “Sky River,” 
or as the “River of Heaven.” 
These are better names than ours, by far, 
but still they sell the sacred river short. 
We know today the Milky Way is what we see
of our own galaxy from near its edge – 
and how do you aptly name the view 
of our vast celestial home, of heaven’s gate – 
the starry path that beckons us,
night’s shining river that
reaches to and from forever?

“Richard West” was Regents’ Professor of Classics in a large public university and has published numerous books, as well as many articles and poems, under his own name or various pen names. He now lives with his wife Anna in the American Desert Southwest, where he enjoys cooking and attempting to add flavor to his poems.